The good news is that the Bill has now cleared all parliamentary hurdles and is just awaiting Royal Assent to become law. The final proceedings in the House of Commons were essentially a formality, with everything passing without a vote.
What Does This Mean for Section 21?
The big question remains: When will Section 21 be abolished?
Jeremy Corbyn asked for an immediate answer, but Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook kept the timeline deliberately vague. He made it clear that while the abolition is coming, the government will allow the sector time to get ready.
His statement was:
“Following Royal Assent we will allow time for a smooth transition to the new system. We’ll support tenants, landlords and agents to understand and adjust to the new rules and ensure the sector has enough time to prepare.”
The Bottom Line on Implementation
In his closing remarks, Mr. Pennycook promised to be fast but fair:
“We will balance the need to act quickly so that tenants can soon benefit from the rights and protections that the Bill introduces, whilst also ensuring that the sector has sufficient time to adjust and prepare for what is a significant change in regulation. The government understands the need for certainty, and we will set out our implementation plans as soon as possible.”
So, while the end of Section 21 is now certain, the timeline for its abolition is still up in the air, falling somewhere between ‘quickly’ and ‘sufficient time’ for preparation.
As soon as the government announces what “sufficient time” means in practice, we will let you know immediately with a full breakdown.
For now, the advice is clear: prepare, don’t panic. Please reach out if there’s anything we can support you with.
Keep an eye out for our next update!